Pietersen could be great captain: Hussain

LONDON (Reuters) - England captain Kevin Pietersen has the potential to become a great leader after a dream start to his new job, according to former skipper Nasser Hussain.

England defeated South Africa in the fourth and final test at the Oval on Monday in Pietersen's first match in charge although they still lost the series 2-1.

"It is a lesson to us all that captains are not necessarily born, they can be made," Hussain wrote in the September issue of the Wisden Cricketer magazine.

"Kevin Pietersen might not be the best captain in the world in the next few months but he can learn to become a great captain, just as (Michael) Vaughan did. Vaughan got better and better with each game."

Vaughan, who took over from Hussain in 2003 and led England to their unforgettable Ashes win over Australia two years later, resigned after the team lost the third test against South Africa.

Hussain said Pietersen needed to establish the same sort of relationship with coach Peter Moores that he and Vaughan had with Moores's predecessor Duncan Fletcher.

"It always seemed Vaughan and Fletcher were still close and certainly closer than Vaughan and Moores. That is understandable. But now there is a chance for Pietersen and Moores to create a bond," Hussain said.

"One thing he (Pietersen) will definitely bring is his absolute professionalism. He pushes himself hard in all aspects of practice and preparation and, if he can create that environment for the rest of the team, then he should be successful."